To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated cost of running the embassy and consular service in 2017; his plans to open new embassies or consular services in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter.


REPLY
​
The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).   
The work of our embassy and consulate network around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation.  Our Embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests includes: 
Promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts.
Supporting trade missions and other trade-focussed high-level visits, record numbers of which have taken place in the last five years. 
Directly assisting Irish companies with advice, introductions and working to resolve regulatory or market access issues, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland. 
Providing frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas.

Influencing and negotiating for Ireland on issues that could impact our interests and priorities. 
The estimated cost of running the network of 80 Irish embassies and consulates around the world for 2017 is €70.5 million. 

My Department keeps the coverage of Ireland’s mission network under review. Any decision to alter the mission network is a matter for the Government. 

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the trade missions planned for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.


REPLY
Ministerial-led trade missions are a central element of the Government’s support for Ireland’s exports, inward investment, tourism, and international education.  An intensive programme of trade missions is a key part of our overall strategy of pursuing market diversification and building resilience into our economy in response to changes in the global trade and investment environment, and the complex challenges presented by Brexit.  
As set out in the Government’s new trade and investment strategy, entitled Ireland Connected: Trading and Investing in a Dynamic World, which was launched by the Taoiseach on 8 March last, we are committed to intensifying the number, focus and market reach of trade and investment missions and events in 2017, in order to deepen existing trade and investment relationships and forging new linkages.  
The overall number of ministerial-led trade missions has increased substantially in recent years.  These high level missions, led by a range of Ministers across all Departments, complement the ongoing year-round work of our Embassy network and agencies in-market, including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, in promoting awareness of and confidence in Ireland as a place to invest and do business and in showcasing Ireland’s unique strengths. 
The development of the trade mission programme is a collaborative exercise involving input from my Department, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and other state agencies. Under Ireland Connected: Trading and Investing in a Dynamic World, we have committed ourselves to further enhancing coherence across Government around trade missions to ensure that these activities are strategically targeted and adaptive to our evolving trade and investment priorities. 
I am acutely conscious of the importance of minister-led trade missions in terms of securing high level access for Irish companies seeking to grow their businesses overseas and increase jobs at home. Our 80-strong network of embassies and consulates fulfil a vital role in supporting such missions. 
This year, 46 international ministerial-led trade events are planned by Enterprise Ireland with a focus on market diversification and intensification. 

Full details can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/News/PressReleases/2017-Press-Releases/Enterprise-Ireland-Launches-International-Trade-Mission-Programme-for-2017.html

​ To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when work on the new school buildings for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St. Oliver Plunkett's National School, Malahide. Co. Dublin
  
REPLY.


The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process.

The school was authorized to issue a Letter of Intent to the preferred tenderer on 14th March 2017.  The completed supplementary tender report from the school and its design team will be submitted to my Department in the coming weeks and following its review and subject to no issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in the third quarter of 2017.  The project is scheduled to take 25 months to complete. 

​ To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Gaeilscoil Ros Eo, Rush, Co Dublin.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy is aware, a school building project for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's capital programme.

Officials in my Department have been liaising with officials in the relevant Local Authority to acquire a site for the school in line with the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites, and this process is ongoing. 

Due to the commercial sensitivities which attach to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further information at this time.  However, the patron of the school in question will be informed of the proposed location as soon as it is possible to do so. 

​To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the new post-primary school to serve Swords is included on my Department’s six year construction programme.  

My Department has worked closely with Fingal County Council in respect of this and conveyancing is currently underway in respect of a site for the permanent school accommodation.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am unfortunately not in a position to provide further details regarding the permanent location at this time.  I can, however, assure the Deputy that the site acquisition process for this school is being advanced by my Department as a priority.

The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending completion of construction. 

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the new post-primary school to serve the Malahide and Portmarnock school planning areas is included in my Department’s current 6 year construction programme.  My Department is working towards the acquisition of a suitable site to provide the permanent location for this school and I can assure the Deputy that this acquisition is a priority for my Department.

The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending completion of construction.

​To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking to encourage Ethiopia to lift the state of emergency and to encourage the Ethiopian government to address the grievances of protesters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21st March, 2017.
Ref No: 13446/17

REPLY
(Minister of State, Mr. Joe McHugh T.D.)
We have been following the situation in Ethiopia closely, and with concern, since the declaration of a state of emergency in October last.  Ireland and Ethiopia have developed a strong bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994.   Ethiopia is one of Ireland’s key partner countries for development cooperation, and we have developed strong political and economic relations. We provided over €29 million through our bilateral development programme to Ethiopia in 2016. Ireland’s humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia amounted to a further €6.65 million in 2016.   
Our Embassy in Addis Ababa has been monitoring the situation closely since public demonstrations and protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions took place in late 2015. The protests grew in scope and scale throughout 2016 and culminated in violent clashes between protestors and security forces. Following an incident resulting in the deaths of at least 52 protesters, the Ethiopian Government declared a state of emergency on 9 October 2016.  While it appears to have restored calm to the regions where protests took place, this has been accompanied by worrying reports regarding the high levels of detention and a tense human rights environment. 
Our Embassy in Addis Ababa engages regularly with the Ethiopian Government to express our concern at these political developments, and to encourage the Government to address the underlying causes of discontent. Ireland, with our EU partners, will continue this active dialogue with the Ethiopian Government and will continue to encourage the Government to engage with civil society and other political actors in Ethiopia. 
Ireland has also raised concerns relating to the state of emergency at the Human Rights Council on 15 March 2017, expressing concern at the large number of arrests and detention of protestors. This followed our statement at the Human Rights Council in September 2016, supporting the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for an independent, impartial and international human rights assessment of the Government’s response to the protests which led to the introduction of the state of emergency. The EU has also engaged with the Ethiopian Government and raised concerns. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Federica Mogherini, spoke with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister in October 2016 and expressed her concern about the possible effect on democratic principles and civil rights of Ethiopian citizens. 

On the 15 March, the Government of Ethiopia announced that there would be a partial lifting of the state of emergency, stating that arrests without court orders and searches without court papers will stop. The Government also announced that restrictions imposed on radio, television and theatre and dawn-to dusk prohibitions on unauthorised movements around infrastructure facilities and factories have been repealed.
Our Embassy in Addis Ababa will continue to monitor the situation closely, and engage regularly with the Ethiopian Government.


 



Question No. 595
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he is taking to ensure that development assistance is reaching the most vulnerable Ethiopians, regardless of their political affiliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21st March, 2017.
Ref No: 13447/17

REPLY
(Minister of State, Mr. Joe McHugh, T.D.)
Ethiopia has been a key partner country for Ireland’s development assistance since 1994.  Our assistance has at all times been focused on the most vulnerable people and communities in the country, regardless of their political views or affiliation.  Last year, we provided some €29 million in long term development assistance in Ethiopia and a further €6.65 million in humanitarian assistance.
In designing and implementing Ireland’s development assistance, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Addis Ababa work in close consultation with Government and local authorities in Ethiopia and with local communities and civil society.  
A central element of Ireland’s assistance is the Productive Safety Net Programme, which provides food and cash transfers to vulnerable people, on the basis of objective criteria, developed to ensure that those suffering from chronic hunger are reached.  It is closely monitored to ensure that it reaches those most in need and is not subject to political interference.  
Our programme aims to build the resilience of Ethiopia’s poorest households, including through access to drought-tolerant, high-yielding seeds for small holder farmers and working to ensure that women and children have improved nutrition.  We work closely with civil society organisations to promote education for minority groups, tackle violence against women and girls. As part of its work with civil society, Ireland is encouraging organisations and support vulnerable citizens, including people with disabilities to argue for and access quality services.   
Ethiopia suffers from cyclical droughts and chronic food insecurity.  The Government of Ethiopia has developed an impressive capacity to respond to climatic events, but still, last year, some 10.2 million people required and received emergency food assistance.  In addition to these challenges, Ethiopia is hosting one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, with almost 800,000 refugees in need of annual humanitarian assistance.
In addition to our financial assistance, since the onset of the El Nino climate effect, in 2015, six members of the Irish Aid Rapid Response Corps have been deployed to Ethiopia to work with UN response operations. Three of these responders were deployed in recent weeks.  We have also airlifted 30 tonnes of emergency relief supplies for distribution to those most in need. We are keeping the situation under close review and I expect that it will be necessary to provide further humanitarian support to Ethiopia in the coming period.  

​To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the new post-primary school to serve the Malahide and Portmarnock school planning areas is included in my Department’s current 6 year construction programme.  My Department is working towards the acquisition of a suitable site to provide the permanent location for this school and I can assure the Deputy that this acquisition is a priority for my Department.

The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending completion of construction.

​To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Gaeilscoil Ros Eo, Rush, Co Dublin.
  
REPLY


As the Deputy is aware, a school building project for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's capital programme.

Officials in my Department have been liaising with officials in the relevant Local Authority to acquire a site for the school in line with the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites, and this process is ongoing. 

Due to the commercial sensitivities which attach to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further information at this time.  However, the patron of the school in question will be informed of the proposed location as soon as it is possible to do so. 

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of the Metro North from Dublin city centre to Swords/Lissenhall, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

REPLY

Funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 for planning, design and construction of new Metro North.  Funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan is for planning and design work with construction expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/2027. ​It is estimated that the project will cost in the region of €2.4 billion (excluding VAT). The Programme for Partnership Government commits to proceeding with the New Metro North project.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the new Metro North project.      
The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the NTA's recommendations on the study, which identified the light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. It is expected that the service will offer capacity for 9,900 passengers per hour per direction with the potential to expand services in the future if demand requires.
The NTA, in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations.  Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established.   It is my understanding that the NTA and TII anticipate that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.